| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| ArmyWifey |
Posted - Dec 18 2005 : 12:09:30 PM
I've been told off and on throughout the years that I should start a business decorating for others. Things like weddings, fancy receptions, even houses.
The question is where to start? How to start small? etc,etc,etc........
Holly
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
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| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| cajungal |
Posted - Jan 10 2006 : 05:49:00 AM
Hi Holly,
You sound a bit more cheery than a few weeks ago. I hope all is well and continues to get better.
These ladies have some great wisdom. What good advice you've gotten.
Maybe you can use the moving around thing to your benefit...like, "Use me while you can, I'll be gone soon" ha ha Or, "Coming soon to your area..."
You are doing quite a lot for your family and God will honor that and Bless it. Just take the plunge!
Blessings
Catherine
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt." |
| greyghost |
Posted - Jan 09 2006 : 8:12:30 PM
I was a decorator for a few years in Tampa. I'm not much of a people person - so all that interaction with people wore me out. But I LOVED changing the space, adding color or adjusting light, completely changing the rooms. And I loved my client's reactions - I have one client I still adore - she was just lavish on the compliments, I'd do anything for her even now. She was very upset when I told her I was moving to Georgia.
There's bad ones too. If you're good with people and can spot a scammer real quick (you do learn... sometimes the hard way), then decorating is SOOOOO for you. I loved the discounts, sometimes I loved the fabric a client and I had chosen so much, I'd order a few extra yards for myself. It was great. But it's a lot of work, a lot of running around and keeping on top of carpenters, painters, carpetlayers and the like. A lot of looking for the right lighting, the right fabrics, the right furniture. And there's a lot of money to keep track of, and the sales tax license (which isn't as bad as I had expected it to be) is still a lot of work too.
Interior Redesign is a little less labor-intensive, it's basically just looking at the space and realizing what is working and what isn't - how the room needs to be arranged for it to function best. You usually just work with what the client has, and that's what I started out doing, but soon I was doing draperies and adding pillows, trees, folding screens and the like and taking some money off the top from that. Since you're in that drab military housing it would be a fun challenge making those spaces look homey and inviting - but your friends and neighbors will love you for it.
Best of luck! |
| lgm1270 |
Posted - Jan 09 2006 : 1:25:26 PM
Hi Holly
I just wanted to say that being in the military does present it's own challenges, but also it's own rewards. I was a military wife for 12 years and one thing I realized is that there is community within your MOS. I found that almost everywhere we moved there were people whom I knew. You can get in touch with your family support group leader, they do ladies meetings and gatherings of such that you might could give a class to and you might be able to help decorate for the big battalion parties. I know military personnel don't have funds to spend a lot on decorating, but I would have given ANYTHING to have someone help me fix up drab military housing.
Good Luck and Blessings to you
Lorrie
Home of Fun, Fashionable, and Functional Aprons
www.ameliasaprons.com / www.ameliasaprons.com/blog |
| ArmyWifey |
Posted - Dec 19 2005 : 08:20:07 AM
Thanks ladies.
The tricky part is being military...........we move every 2-3yrs so it has to be something mobile. Not set up in a shop (although wouldn't that be fun! At least not right now).
I do enjoy it but I don't always have much confidence.
I have done a small article on temporary decorating before too.
thanks again,
Holly
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
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| CabinCreek-Kentucky |
Posted - Dec 19 2005 : 07:13:40 AM
good morning holly .. well, it sounds to me like you have the FIRST ingredient for a successful business .. the 'passion and desire' .. this sounds to be a 'local' business since you will first-hand be visiting the homes, so, i think i'd start locally. and a good first step is to visit your library and/or bookstore (and don't forget to check on-line for this too) .. for BOOKS about starting up a small business .. and for yet more books on decorating. You might want to contact your local newspaper and see if they will do an 'article' on you (great free advertizing)! Hostess an 'open house' where you invite women to come to your home and present a program giving them some great decorating ideas or techniques and make sure that everyone has a 'brochure' telling all about your decorating service and a way to contact you. (or perhaps contact a local shoppe and offer to decorate their 'store window' in exchange for having your 'open house' there. I have a friend in Maryland, who worked had a small shoppe in a huge olde historic mill that had been converted to an arts and antiques shoppe. The owners were so impressed with her decorating that they hired her to decorate the 'center of the mall' for each season and holiday.
Your local newspaper ... see if they would be interested in you writing a 'decorating' column for them once a month. GREAT way to 'get your name known'.
OF course, you will have to get all the appropriate business forms filled out and secure all the required lisences to run a business. IF you have a local Better Business Bureau .. they will usually give you all kinds of information .. if not ... contact the nearest BBB in your area .. they will send you information to read.
Chamber of Commerce: JOIN this organization .. it is a fantastic networking tool for all businesses.
Speak!!! Women's organizations are always looking for dynamic programs of interest. Contact all women's organizations .. offer to give a talk and maybe, demonstration, on ways to decorate. These things all take 'time' .. but are fabulous 'free' advertizing for you. You have to get the 'word out' .. and you also have to find 'your audience'. The families that have the financial resources to use your expertise.
And Holly, i think the following is the most important 'advice' i have to give about women and business. "Follow Your Bliss" ... honestly, honestly, honestly, do NOT 'worry' about the money. Don't make that your FIRST priority. If you are enthusiastic, and fun and kind and giving .. and LOVE what you do ... the money will come! Now .. you may not become rich or famous (and then again .. you just might!) But, if you have walked a 'noble road' in your endeavor ,.. done your 'homework' .. and shown your talents and enthusiasm .. you are at least travelling in the right direction.
And the way i see it .. even if 'this' dream does not materialize the way you hoped it would .. you will have made many new friends along the way ... and that is a wonderful reward in itself.
I wish you success, however you define it, in this new adventure of yours. If you have specific questions, let us know .. there are some bright and caring women that we are 'connected' with here and we're all cheering for you! xo, frannie
True Friends, Frannie |
| Mari-dahlia |
Posted - Dec 19 2005 : 06:24:46 AM
Hey ArmyWifey,
I was one for 5 years also. San Antonio, TX. I planned weddings for large restaurants and the Country club, and had always been told I should start my own wedding planning business. Never did.
But I did spend alot of time researching the matter. First I would design a business card and get it printed. They are cheap now from places like Office max. For discounts and wholesale pricing you will need a tax ID number etc.
Then I would get or create my own website. Most people research on line. Word of mouth will get you the most business so I would start doing this for your friends, etc. for cost just to get the word out.
Goodluck, sounds exciting. |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Dec 18 2005 : 8:20:39 PM
Hey Holly...I wondered where you were!! Good to see you back. I hope someone has your answer. I think that would be a fun job too!!
Jenny in Utah
It's astonishing how short a time it takes for very wonderful things to happen...Frances Burnette |
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